Idaho is one of the few states where RNs and LPNs renew without any continuing education requirement. The Board removed its old learning-activity rule in its 2023 rule rewrite, so renewal is an application and a fee. APRNs have one extra step: documenting a peer review process.
Idaho RN License Renewal Requirements Overview
The Idaho Board of Nursing rules (IDAPA 24.34.01) contain no continuing education, practice-hour, or learning-activity requirement for RN or LPN renewal. Idaho Code 54-1411 requires a renewal every two years and a fee, and for APRNs, proof of competence through a peer review process.
If you see older pages describing “two learning activities” such as 15 CE hours plus 100 practice hours, that was the previous rule. The Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses recorded in its 2022 rulemaking analysis that the change “eliminates the current rule in place for continuing education requirements for RN's and LPN's.” It is no longer in force.
Idaho has been a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state since 2001, so nurses with an Idaho multistate license can practice in the other compact states without additional licenses.
What Is Required for Renewal?
For RNs and LPNs:
- No CE hours, practice hours, or learning activities
- A completed renewal application, including the disclosure questions
- Renewal fee: $70
For APRNs:
- Peer review: certified nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists must document completion of a peer review process at each renewal (Idaho Code 54-1411(2)). The Board defines peer review as a qualified peer assessing the quality of your care against established practice standards.
- Renewal fee: $70
Important Renewal Dates
- RN and APRN licenses: August 31 of odd-numbered years (next deadline: August 31, 2027)
- LPN licenses: August 31 of even-numbered years (next deadline: August 31, 2028)
- Late renewal: available with a $35 late fee. A license not renewed before September 1 has lapsed, and you cannot practice on it.
Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your Idaho Nursing License
- Log in to the DOPL online portal and select your nursing license.
- Answer the disclosure questions about professional conduct and criminal history.
- APRNs: document your peer review. Have the peer review completed before you renew.
- Pay the $70 renewal fee by credit or debit card.
- Submit before August 31 of your renewal year.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying CE you don't need for Idaho. Idaho requires none for RN or LPN renewal. If you hold licenses in other states, or a national certification, those may still require CE.
- Following outdated “two learning activities” advice. That rule no longer exists.
- APRNs skipping peer review. It is the one competency requirement Idaho keeps, and it is set in statute.
- Letting the license lapse. A license not renewed before September 1 is invalid until you renew or reinstate it.
Late Renewal and Reinstatement in Idaho
- A $35 late fee applies for late renewal
- Reinstatement requires an application and proof, satisfactory to the Board, of your competency to practice (Idaho Code 54-1411(3)), plus a $35 reinstatement fee
- You cannot work as a nurse while your license is lapsed, even briefly
NLC Compact and Idaho
If your primary state of residence is Idaho, you can hold a multistate license and practice in the other NLC member states without separate applications. The August 31 deadlines apply to multistate licenses too, and a lapsed Idaho license ends your multistate privileges.
APRN Renewal in Idaho
APRNs follow the same August 31 odd-year cycle as RNs and pay the same $70 fee. The difference is the statutory peer review requirement. APRNs with a DEA registration also complete the federal one-time 8-hour MATE Act training on substance use disorder treatment, which is a DEA requirement separate from Idaho's rules.
Idaho RN Renewal FAQ
Do I need any CE to renew my Idaho RN license? No. Idaho's current rules contain no CE or learning-activity requirement for RNs or LPNs.
I'm a first-time renewer. Am I exempt? There is nothing to be exempt from: RNs and LPNs owe no CE at any renewal. APRNs still document peer review.
Should I keep doing CE anyway? Many nurses do, for certification renewal, employer requirements, or licenses in other states. Keep those certificates, since other boards may audit them.
Track Your Idaho License with RenewRN
Even without a CE requirement, a missed August 31 deadline lapses your license. RenewRN sends Pro email reminders at 90, 60, 30, 7, and 1 day before your license expires so you never lapse.